In your professional judgment, what is an example of an outstanding Term Paper

In your professional judgment, what is an example of an outstanding strategic decision or what is an example of a failed strateg - Term Paper Example Include the source(s) of your information within your contribution in the sentences. Be very specific. Use  single  space block form for your contribution with double spacing between paragraphs.   In explaining the strategic approach that you consider a success or a failure, you should answer the following questions:   1. Which of the stages of strategic management in action (page 30 of Coulter) initiated the success or failure of the strategy? Was it a good/bad idea from the beginning?   2. What does the organization perceive as its competitive advantage (page 31 of Coulter)? How was this affected by the strategy in question?   3. What driving force or which driving forces of the new business environment (pages 36-44 of Coulter) assisted or helped defeat the strategy in question?   4. How did external opportunities and threats affect the success or failure of the strategy in question (Chapter 3 of Coulter)?   You may decide to choose a public organization (e.g. unive rsity such as Northwest or a public hospital center). Whether you choose a for-profit organization or a not-for-profit organization, explain the situation clearly and completely as possible. Refer to the Coulter text in your explanation.   This particular instance, the focus was on to find inquisitive insight about a strategy decision that a company had to implement in order to survive in the fast-paced environment of the corporate world. One of the interesting issues relating to this was the decision of Blue Cross Blue Shield demanding a hospital to cut its overhead cost. Without prior knowledge and being subjective, one would think that the insurance company is at fault. However, one cannot make that judgment without understanding the complexity of the issue at hand. Blue Cross Blue Shield was faced with a dilemma. As an insurance business, the company must made essential strategy decisions that impact its future growth. In this particular scenario, the company did benchmark tes ting and determined that the rate the hospital charges the company is too high within the hospitals at its region. Blue Cross determined that the hospital should cut its cost by 10% through any means possible. This is partly due to the fact that the company was losing money as it had an obligation to pay its patient’s premiums. Undoubtedly, the hospital responded by adequately cutting its costs. This was beneficial for both companies as it not only build a solid relationship and enabled the companies to diminish unnecessary costs. Moreover, it enabled Blue Cross Blue shield to give better discount rates to hospitals, doctor groups, members and enabled them to compete in a very competitive environment. If the company did not make the strategic decision, it would have given hospital the leverage to go in a market and attract another insurance company. Since Blue Cross Blue Shield targets large groups, it seemed sufficient for the company to challenge the traditional rates of th e hospital. If it failed to do so, it would have lost a small majority of its members in the network which would have made the company suffer in overall long-term profits. Strategic decision making is defined as set of alternate decisions that affect key factors which impacts the success of an organization’s strategy. Strategic decisions differ from Tactical decisions because tactical decisions are based on day to day implementation which requires several steps to reach a particular strategy. Blue Cross Blue s

The essence of human being, The Grand Inquisitor, Brother Karamozovs Essay Example for Free

The essence of human being, The Grand Inquisitor, Brother Karamozovs Essay The essence of human being Since ancient times by different scientists have tried to give a precise definition of the nature of man. The concept of human nature extremely broad, it can be used to describe not only the greatness and strength of a man, but also weakness and disadvantages. Human nature is unique in its contradictory unity of the material and the spiritual sides. However, with this concept, we can only see the contradictions in tragic way of human nature. A man cannot jump out of him/her body shell, and forget about it. Man is able to realize the contradictions of his nature, to understand that it belongs to the conflicting worlds the world of freedom and the world of necessary physical needs. Not everyone can middle between spiritual and material things. Hence, nobody can find what more important thing is for human being. In legend of Grand Inquisitor, on the main characters, Grand Inquisitor discussed about human nature, he gave own explanation. According to Grand Inquisitor points, the human nature is weak, rebel, materialist, and does not want to possess freedom. However, it is very difficult to give exact definition of human nature, because it depends on individual and every person has own way life. The most important thing in the world is earthly bread. Grand inquisitor said that people cannot live without material things. If somebody gave earthly bread mankind would follow him/her. Even though, there are people who value only heavenly bread; they cannot live without earthly bread, as freedom cannot feed them. Grand Inquisitor said that even if adherents of Jesus will be free. Followers cannot live without satisfying physical needs and they will look for the materialists. These free men will be dependent on materialists, because they do not have anything. Mankind will do anything for earthly bread. Possession of material things brings a satisfaction for people. However if humanity does not possess such satisfaction, then they can destroy everything for a piece of bread. At the end, mankind will proclaim that all actions were done for the common good. The second point is freedom, that it is the most difficult burden for human nature. Grand Inquisitor said that people try to find a tutor in order to he/she was responsible for their actions. In return, people will bow down before him/her, because tutor eliminates because he/she saves people from worries of the decision-making. Moreover, Grand Inquisitor believed that the searching of tutelage is the need for general obedience of humanity. It means that people always will find object of worship. People will destroy each other for their gods, because of everyone thinks that his/her God is the best. Finally, people do not want to make decision by themselves, because eventually they will be charged with actions. The third point is that human nature is weak. Grand Inquisitor believed that not everyone can withstand a spiritual freedom. Since, people try to quickly pass the freedom to those who soothe their consciences. Only a few will be able to live free as a simple human happiness and freedom of conscience are not compatible. For achievement of human happiness, people often deceive, betray and even kill, thus forgetting about the basic moral principles. The fourth point, that humanity is made a rebel. Grand Inquisitor believed that people will always revolt, because they always desire something. if somebody satisfies their wishes, then they will give up him/her. Accordingly, earthly bread, the most important is partially true. People cannot live without satisfying physical needs. People are created so that their body requires constant energy. If people do not have basic living conditions, they will do everything to achieve the goal. If people physical provide their basic needs such as food, clothing, and dwelling, they can think about other things. Consequently, the next step is spiritual self-development. Unfortunately, not all develop themselves, because some people think that possession of wealth is the development of humankind. Freedom is the hardest thing for human nature. Furthermore, people do not want to care, make decision by themselves. It means that most of people do not want to bear responsibility. Thus, there is a prejudice about responsibility. Many people believe that the responsibility is the obligation for a certain action. The duty is when people are forced to do something without desire by external factors or other people. Accordingly, responsibility is own desire of real understanding that things which happens in life. Every human being can be obligatory and at the same time irresponsible. It means that, when every person takes a job position, he/she has certain functions and duties. For example, a cook in the student cafeteria has own responsibilities and functions. Chef can cook unpalatable or undercooked food, but nevertheless he/she has fulfilled him/her obligation. Hence, everyone can perform own duties and functions, however do own job irresponsibly. Every man is weak or strong in own way, it depends on the person. When a person is born, his soul as glass, clear and transparent. All the good and bad (Grand Inquisitor’s points of human being) traits are laid in man. With time the glass gets dirty and dusty, also the soul become dirty and dusty, but some souls stay in pure condition. Moreover, not all souls can clear themselves from mud and dust. Purity of the soul is an attribute of morally the strongest people. Unfortunately, not everyone is born and can be a strong morally. That’s why, some people are susceptible to defects such as material things, lies, betrayal, and so on. Development of defects in human soul depends on the external and internal factors. For example, manifestation of soul disadvantages may occur due to bad upbringing. If the parents are not paying enough attention to own child, do not develop in him/her the moral qualities or maybe even the parents themselves do not have any moral character thus being an example to own child. In broad terms, a person can be described as creature possessing the will, the mind, the higher senses, ability to communicate and work. However, to give a more precise definition of the essence of man is very difficult, because it depends on individual. Grand Inquisitor did good and logical points about human nature, but if these points really describe the essence of every person, then a society, which Grand Inquisitor wanted create, would exist until to the present day. The essence of human nature depends on many factors, for example moral principles, perception and understanding of world, beliefs, aspirations and so on. Consequently, the nature of humanity depends on way of life that every person chooses in life.

The Three Paradigms In Society Essay -- essays papers Sociology

â€Å"The Three Paradigms in Society† Functionalist paradigm, conflict paradigm, and symbolic interaction paradigm are the three major paradigms that function in today’s society. Functionalist, and conflict paradigms are macro-sociological paradigms. Symbolic interaction is a micro-sociological paradigm. Functionalist paradigm focuses on the integration of society, while social conflict focuses on the issue of division among society. Symbolic interaction works on communication and social change as a consequence. The three paradigms are completely different from each other in a social point of view. The macro-sociological paradigms view America as an inequality state. The social conflict paradigm fits today’s society. The functionalist paradigm focuses on the integration of society, and how society how its own groups which has their own functions to help improve the peoples lives. Functionalist paradigm fits in the category of macro-sociology, because it focuses on the patterns that shape an entire society. Functionalists believe that society is maintained through the thought of trust and consensus on moral values for ideal behavior. Working together will result in a stable social environment that will create equality. Conflicts or dysfunctions will be view as a disease in the social system. Social conflict paradigm believes that society is divided into many groups that have their own goals, and that certain parts of the world have the luck of benefiting economic dominan...

Advance Strategic Planning

Advanced Strategic Planning was written by Aubrey Malphurs and was first published in 1999 with the over-all purpose of providing the church and its leadership a good strategic planning process that will help it them move from a stage of stagnant growth to a period of change and revitalization.   The book offers a nine-step strategic thinking and acting models and diagrams that help illustrate concepts.   The updated edition of the book has put emphasis on disciple making.Malphurs, who has authored many books on church leadership and strategy, is a professor of Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. He specializes in teaching pastors how to think strategically and move their congregation to growth and accomplishment of goals.He is also the president of the Malphurs Group, a consulting organization which provides training and consultation services for churches that sees the need for help in the area of church growth.Malphurs started the book by stating that almost all institutions today, such as churches, go through a sigmoid or S-curve pattern of growth or life cycle, in which a church begins and experiences rapid growth in all areas, achieves a point a comfort zone of routines and programs, and later on declines and eventually dies.Malphurs, in his book, perceives the S-curve life cycle pattern as a problem besetting most churches by stating that:â€Å"The message or lesson of the sigmoid curve is that all good things (and even some bad things) end†¦ Even brand-new institutions and organizations such as a church will, in time, plateau and then die. No matter what institution it is, organizational â€Å"dry rot† sets in.   The institution becomes brittle, ceases to function, and expires† (Malphurs 2005, 11).Given the abovementioned problem Malphurs argues that as soon as the church feels that it now reached the point of staggering growth and plateau, it should in a way re-invent itself through careful planning and adoption of new set of core values (whenever necessary) in order to propel it back to a period of significant growth.This will mean reviewing and restructuring the various aspects of church life such as its core values, personnel, congregation, prevailing culture, finances, community where it is interacting, among others, through a strategic planning process.A handful of suggestions on how to carry out the conduct of this strategic planning was provided lengthily and was discussed in an almost detailed manner by Malphurs.StrengthsDrawing from a wealth of experience as a pastor, professor and consultant, Malphurs have provided significant and doable ways of carrying out the strategic revitalization process.   Perhaps using his personal experience of leading a church, he was able to address a lot of pitfalls and traps that a pastor and church leader should avoid in strategic planning.His experience and love for the ministry and church transcends all throughout the book, making a pastor or a leader, whose church is going through a period of plateau in terms of growth, reading the book feel that the book was written specifically for him and his flock.   Malphurs has a heart for the local church.   The strategic planning is simply his response to the problem that he perceives. [1]It was also made clear in the book that the pastor or church leaders can’t do the process and implement changes alone, every member of the congregation must be informed properly for them to be involved in all facets of the process.   The need to effectively communicate the vision was emphasized and strongly recommended. Malphurs writes:If you conduct secret meetings and fail to communicate in general what happens in those meetings, you will not be able to lead the congregation because they will no trust you (63).An unwavering support on the ongoing strategic planning process will only come from a church member who clearly understands the what and why’s of his/her churchâ€℠¢s call for a strategic planning.Although the book is in fact a â€Å"how-to† sort of manual, Malphurs succeeded in finding a biblical basis for the conduct of the strategic planning.   This makes the book grounded on the godly and biblical principles of leadership.An obvious strength of the book is the manner it challenged church pastors and leaders to think critically regarding its mission, vision, values, and congregational structure. Provoking questions are injected throughout the book to guide its readers in propelling the church in a certain direction that will eventually lead to the realization of their mission and vision.Malphurs is very strong in recommending the necessity of adopting a mission and vision statements in churches. To further guide his readers, Malphurs also made a clear distinction between values, missions, and functions.Armed with the understanding that churches will definitely look different in varying contexts, he stresses the value of injecting p rofessionalism and excellence in all ministry undertakings which is and should be a characteristic of any church desiring to grow.David Murrow also sees this need when he wrote, â€Å"Men appreciate excellence†¦Excellent doesn’t mean slick, canned or superficial. It simply means everything done well (Col. 3:23).†[2]Malphurs also tediously provided helpful tools and sample evaluation forms that will help a church start the strategic planning process.   He make sure that churches who will decide to embark in the strategic planning process already have the tools, which can be modified if they opt to, to keep the process going and evaluated.WeaknessesAlthough well-written, the book still has some few unhelpful aspects and needs thoughtful consideration from a critical reader.Malphurs have excellently provided a book for strategic thinking pastors but have missed out those who are implementers and dreamers in nature, reality will tell us that there are pastors who se e that their calling evolves on activities such as teaching, preaching, evangelism, visitation, etc.Strategic planning is not an exciting and needed activity for pastors and leaders who fall under these characteristics, for them church growth and dynamism depends on going out and reaching the unreached.Another important concern that Malphurs alluded is the average period of time it will take for the whole process of defining the church’s mission, discovering their values, catching the vision, and actually coming up with a plan will be done.He noted that it could take five (5) years just to get everybody on board. Unfortunately, nowadays,   a pastoral longevity in a certain church is only 3 to 4 years.   George Barna stated: â€Å"The average tenure of a pastor in Protestant churches has declined to just 4 years—even though studies consistently show that pastors experience their most productive and influential ministry in years 5 through 14 of their pastorate.† [3]The book also failed in considering the value of preaching the Word of God, reaching out the lost, and healthy fellowship among members of the congregation, in spurring growth in the church.The â€Å"Readiness for Change† inventory contains factors necessary for organizational change, but it is interesting to note that Malphurs have missed to include prayer. For any change to take place in a church, the leaders and members of the church should devote time in praying.ConclusionOverall much is to be commended in Malphurs’ book. It is a very practical book.   The strengths of the book outweigh the weaknesses.   The weaknesses stated should not detract a one from reading the book.Although there are some suggestions made by Malphurs that in one way or another is not supported biblically, such as not putting older men and women in the leadership as opposed to the scripture’s advice to have the older men and women teaching the younger ones, the book still off ers sound and helpful principles of strategically leading and managing a church.The objectives set by Malphurs in writing the book are achieved, he perceived a problem, and he has provided in great detail a solution to the problem. He has skillfully presented a sys aforementioned, his wealth of experience have made every argument he presented convincing and worth trying for.The book is a valuable reading and tool for young, soon-to-be pastors, pastors, elders, church staff members, and lay leaders, or for anyone who is in one way or another involved in church leadership.However, a word of caution, one should be very careful in accepting that the book is the cure-all answer to the problems besetting the churches today.   It is a guide, a good and helpful guide, but it doesn’t contain all the answers to church issues and problems.   Pastors and leaders of the church should still bear in mind what is stated Proverbs 16:9 says â€Å"The mind of man plans his way; But the LOR D directs his steps.†Ã‚   The Lord is still the sovereign one, if it is His Will it will definitely happen. [1]. Owen Strachan,   Reviews: Advanced Strategic Planning by Aubrey Malphurs, (9Marks Reviews , 2008) [article available online], www.alliance.net, date accessed July 21, 2009 [2]. David Murrow, How Women Help Men Find God, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008) [3].   George Barna, The Second Coming of the Church, (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1998), 5. Advance Strategic Planning Advanced Strategic Planning was written by Aubrey Malphurs and was first published in 1999 with the over-all purpose of providing the church and its leadership a good strategic planning process that will help it them move from a stage of stagnant growth to a period of change and revitalization.   The book offers a nine-step strategic thinking and acting models and diagrams that help illustrate concepts.   The updated edition of the book has put emphasis on disciple making.Malphurs, who has authored many books on church leadership and strategy, is a professor of Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. He specializes in teaching pastors how to think strategically and move their congregation to growth and accomplishment of goals.He is also the president of the Malphurs Group, a consulting organization which provides training and consultation services for churches that sees the need for help in the area of church growth.Malphurs started the book by stating that almost all institutions today, such as churches, go through a sigmoid or S-curve pattern of growth or life cycle, in which a church begins and experiences rapid growth in all areas, achieves a point a comfort zone of routines and programs, and later on declines and eventually dies.Malphurs, in his book, perceives the S-curve life cycle pattern as a problem besetting most churches by stating that:â€Å"The message or lesson of the sigmoid curve is that all good things (and even some bad things) end†¦ Even brand-new institutions and organizations such as a church will, in time, plateau and then die. No matter what institution it is, organizational â€Å"dry rot† sets in.   The institution becomes brittle, ceases to function, and expires† (Malphurs 2005, 11).Given the abovementioned problem Malphurs argues that as soon as the church feels that it now reached the point of staggering growth and plateau, it should in a way re-invent itself through careful planning and adoption of new set of core values (whenever necessary) in order to propel it back to a period of significant growth.This will mean reviewing and restructuring the various aspects of church life such as its core values, personnel, congregation, prevailing culture, finances, community where it is interacting, among others, through a strategic planning process.A handful of suggestions on how to carry out the conduct of this strategic planning was provided lengthily and was discussed in an almost detailed manner by Malphurs.StrengthsDrawing from a wealth of experience as a pastor, professor and consultant, Malphurs have provided significant and doable ways of carrying out the strategic revitalization process.   Perhaps using his personal experience of leading a church, he was able to address a lot of pitfalls and traps that a pastor and church leader should avoid in strategic planning.His experience and love for the ministry and church transcends all throughout the book, making a pastor or a leader, whose church is going through a period of plateau in terms of growth, reading the book feel that the book was written specifically for him and his flock.   Malphurs has a heart for the local church.   The strategic planning is simply his response to the problem that he perceives. [1]It was also made clear in the book that the pastor or church leaders can’t do the process and implement changes alone, every member of the congregation must be informed properly for them to be involved in all facets of the process.   The need to effectively communicate the vision was emphasized and strongly recommended. Malphurs writes:If you conduct secret meetings and fail to communicate in general what happens in those meetings, you will not be able to lead the congregation because they will no trust you (63).An unwavering support on the ongoing strategic planning process will only come from a church member who clearly understands the what and why’s of his/her churchâ€℠¢s call for a strategic planning.Although the book is in fact a â€Å"how-to† sort of manual, Malphurs succeeded in finding a biblical basis for the conduct of the strategic planning.   This makes the book grounded on the godly and biblical principles of leadership.An obvious strength of the book is the manner it challenged church pastors and leaders to think critically regarding its mission, vision, values, and congregational structure. Provoking questions are injected throughout the book to guide its readers in propelling the church in a certain direction that will eventually lead to the realization of their mission and vision.Malphurs is very strong in recommending the necessity of adopting a mission and vision statements in churches. To further guide his readers, Malphurs also made a clear distinction between values, missions, and functions.Armed with the understanding that churches will definitely look different in varying contexts, he stresses the value of injecting p rofessionalism and excellence in all ministry undertakings which is and should be a characteristic of any church desiring to grow.David Murrow also sees this need when he wrote, â€Å"Men appreciate excellence†¦Excellent doesn’t mean slick, canned or superficial. It simply means everything done well (Col. 3:23).†[2]Malphurs also tediously provided helpful tools and sample evaluation forms that will help a church start the strategic planning process.   He make sure that churches who will decide to embark in the strategic planning process already have the tools, which can be modified if they opt to, to keep the process going and evaluated.WeaknessesAlthough well-written, the book still has some few unhelpful aspects and needs thoughtful consideration from a critical reader.Malphurs have excellently provided a book for strategic thinking pastors but have missed out those who are implementers and dreamers in nature, reality will tell us that there are pastors who se e that their calling evolves on activities such as teaching, preaching, evangelism, visitation, etc.Strategic planning is not an exciting and needed activity for pastors and leaders who fall under these characteristics, for them church growth and dynamism depends on going out and reaching the unreached.Another important concern that Malphurs alluded is the average period of time it will take for the whole process of defining the church’s mission, discovering their values, catching the vision, and actually coming up with a plan will be done.He noted that it could take five (5) years just to get everybody on board. Unfortunately, nowadays,   a pastoral longevity in a certain church is only 3 to 4 years.   George Barna stated: â€Å"The average tenure of a pastor in Protestant churches has declined to just 4 years—even though studies consistently show that pastors experience their most productive and influential ministry in years 5 through 14 of their pastorate.† [3]The book also failed in considering the value of preaching the Word of God, reaching out the lost, and healthy fellowship among members of the congregation, in spurring growth in the church.The â€Å"Readiness for Change† inventory contains factors necessary for organizational change, but it is interesting to note that Malphurs have missed to include prayer. For any change to take place in a church, the leaders and members of the church should devote time in praying.ConclusionOverall much is to be commended in Malphurs’ book. It is a very practical book.   The strengths of the book outweigh the weaknesses.   The weaknesses stated should not detract a one from reading the book.Although there are some suggestions made by Malphurs that in one way or another is not supported biblically, such as not putting older men and women in the leadership as opposed to the scripture’s advice to have the older men and women teaching the younger ones, the book still off ers sound and helpful principles of strategically leading and managing a church.The objectives set by Malphurs in writing the book are achieved, he perceived a problem, and he has provided in great detail a solution to the problem. He has skillfully presented a sys aforementioned, his wealth of experience have made every argument he presented convincing and worth trying for.The book is a valuable reading and tool for young, soon-to-be pastors, pastors, elders, church staff members, and lay leaders, or for anyone who is in one way or another involved in church leadership.However, a word of caution, one should be very careful in accepting that the book is the cure-all answer to the problems besetting the churches today.   It is a guide, a good and helpful guide, but it doesn’t contain all the answers to church issues and problems.   Pastors and leaders of the church should still bear in mind what is stated Proverbs 16:9 says â€Å"The mind of man plans his way; But the LOR D directs his steps.†Ã‚   The Lord is still the sovereign one, if it is His Will it will definitely happen. [1]. Owen Strachan,   Reviews: Advanced Strategic Planning by Aubrey Malphurs, (9Marks Reviews , 2008) [article available online], www.alliance.net, date accessed July 21, 2009 [2]. David Murrow, How Women Help Men Find God, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008) [3].   George Barna, The Second Coming of the Church, (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1998), 5.

Mark Twain’s work, Life on the Mississippi River

Literary critics admittedly point out that there are many themes which run along Mark Twain’s work, Life on the Mississippi River. However, there is always schism as some critics point out that Twain’s works were rife with thematic undertones which were mainly bereft of human ideals such as justice, equality, suffering and tragedy. These critics maintain that given Twain’s leanings towards atheism, he possesses more compunction to delve on moralist ideals. On the other hand, there are critics who point out that Mark Twain’s themes straddle both moralist and non moralist matters, irrespective of his leanings on religious matters. Nevertheless, it is lucid that humanitarian and moralist themes run along his work, Life on the Mississippi River. This paper therefore seeks to establish the veracity of this standpoint. Introduction The book entitled, Life on the Mississippi River is Mark Twain’s memoir that detailed the days he spent as a Mississippi River steamboat pilot in a period anteceding and succeeding the American Civil War. Mark Twain opens the book by giving a short description of the Mississippi River from its point of discovery by Hernando De Soto in 1542. The book continues with Mark Twain’s anecdotes relatable to Twain’s training as a steamboat pilot, according to his own words, the â€Å"cub† of an expert pilot. This book that greatly describes his affections and the science behind navigating the dynamic Mississippi River was initially published in 1876 under the title, the Old Times on the Mississippi. The fact that there are sundry and ominous themes that run deep in this book is portrayed in the fact that the second part, does not constrain itself to describing Twain’s return to travel from St. Louis to New Orleans on a steamboat after many years; but on the contrary, thematic and emotive topics akin to greed, tragedy, gullibility and bad architecture run deep in this work piece. This paper therefore takes to dwell on the themes of tragedy and greed as they run along dominantly in this book, Life in the Mississippi. First off, the theme of tragedy appears in the book’s sample of the authorâ€⠄¢s missive to his sister- in- law, Orion. The book, mentions that five days prior to the composition of this letter, an explosion occurred in a steamboat which had carried Mark Twain’s younger brother, Henry. This development that took place in Pennsylvania left Henry heavily injured. Mark Twain who would have been piloting with his brother, save for some circumstances, was in Memphis, reunited with his brother Henry two days after this explosion, and for six more days, nursed him when he succumbed, being one among the hundreds who perished in the exploitation. According to Fishkin (1998, 121), the theme of tragedy plays strongly, being depicted by the author as that which is inevitable, and as such, no effort can be concocted to avoid it. The inevitable nature of tragedy is clearly brought out by the fact that Mark Twain had a month earlier, already foreseen his brother’s death in a well detailed dream. In almost the same wavelength, the book through the author advises the readers on the way tragedy should be met. The above reality is clearly depicted by the fact that despite the pain of bereavement and guilt that bore heavily on Mark Twain’s mind, he put on a brave face, and continued to work in the river as the river pilot- a feat that was extirpated in 1861 when the American Civil War broke out. This is because the traffic within and along the Mississippi was severed. Similarly, the author depicts the normal nature by which the pain of tragedy is met. Herein, Mark Twain is left subject to intense feeling of guilt and pain, due to the feel that he did not do enough to nip his brother’s death in the bud. It is while in the midst of this emotional turmoil that Mark Twain ventures into the field of parapsychology, deviating from his former involvement in the Society for Physical Research. Kruse (1991, 75) maintains that as the author, Mark Twain does not make a dereliction of the concept and practice slavery. This book presents Missouri as a historical slave state for the South, being represented by in the Federal and Confederate governments at the time of civil war. In a sketchy depiction, Twain intimates of he and his comrades having been volunteers for the Confederacy up to closely two weeks. At the same time, it is this issue of slavery which acts as the hotbed from which the American Civil War springs. Likewise, relatable tragic concepts such as the suffering and the exploitation of the slaves who are mainly blacks comes to the attention of Union, though the South warms up to it as it remains very lucrative; as it is tantamount to free labor. Tragic it is that scarcely did many farmers and small scale industrialists see the need to accord slaves, the African Americans whom they regarded as their mere chattels, with decent domicile, sufficient victuals and proper vestments, leaving alone a pay for any work done. It is by this depiction of the contradictive lifestyle between the slave owners in Missouri and their slaves that Twain presents the tragedy of human avarice that would have human beings exploit their fellows without any remorse. In a cleverly calculated artifice to show his disdain for this exploitation through slavery and his depiction of it as a practice doomed for failure, Twain depicts this as the crux of the antithetical stance that the Unionists and Southerners had towards each other; with a war christened, The American Civil War being the culmination of this affair; the South greatly loosing and the door for the total proscription of slavery being opened (Twain, 2004, 99). Again, in a cleverly packaged stylistic approach, Twain revisits the theme of tragedy and suffering as being caused by war, even the American Civil War. It is no secret that Twain speaks of himself generatively so that in his sufferings, he has the ability to represent the painful experiences of many others. A case in point is Mark Twain’s self depiction of a youthful individual who had grown up along the precincts of the Mississippi River where he also earned his livelihood. Nevertheless, Twain’s life and means of livelihood is interfered with by the war as he is one of the many who are forced to abandon the steamboat pilot career with the advent of the war. It is only after two decades that Twain returns to the Mississippi River, only to be met with wide scale changes that have materialized in the area. At this juncture, apart from the socio- cultural changes that have taken place, the tributaries of the Mississippi River have undergone transformation too. Similarly, Mark Twain like many others returns to find remarkable persons who have all become an integral part of the nation’s forgotten history. The above situation means that forever; lives along the Mississippi River had undergone an irrevocable transformation as families remained severed from their members; while others had their professions and means of earning a living extirpated as the tributaries of the Mississippi totally changed. All these occurrences are attempts by Mark Twain to depict the tragedies that the American Civil War bequeathed the Americans- tragedies which were so pervasive, cutting across all the spheres of life: social, economic and cultural spectra (Pettit 2004, 161). In almost the same vein, the theme of avarice tampered with concepts of tragedy remains rampant in this piece of literature, with the former being seen to be the causative agent of the latter. Watkins (2004) maintains that in a picturesque manner, Twain mentions of the technological developments which were materializing in the US at the time, such as the development of the steamboat, which spurned the boat construction industry. Running concomitant with this development was the radical changes and efforts to ameliorate the railway system. Although all these developments sparked off industrial developments, the unfortunate development that came alongside this was the dingy, shoddy and substandard constrictions which Mark Twain recounts as having caused massive numbers of deaths. Twain depicts the poor and pronto constructions which were hurried through with the need to rake in quick lucre as being the prime reason behind the sad situation. Again, tragedy plays along here, as these poor constructions which were greedily hurried through, collapsed, claiming the lives of many innocent. Conclusion It is therefore clear that the theme of tragedy plays along in Twain’s book with matters akin to anthropocentricity taking the center stage. This is because, beyond the reporting of the practices which directly compromised human rights, the real need behind the writing of the novel was meant at mirroring the society so that ameliorative socio- cultural and economic practices could be welcome. At this juncture, it is therefore easy to see that core matters which are relatable to human ideals such as equality for all claim center stage in Twain’s writings.

Patrick Henry and the Virginia Conference essays

Patrick Henry and the Virginia Conference essays The American Revolution, as written by historian Gordon Wood was as radical and as revolutionary as any in history. Twenty- first century definitions of the word radical are: thoroughgoing or extreme, especially as regards change from accepted or traditional forms; favoring drastic political, economic, or social reforms, radical ideas and ideologies and forming a basis or foundation. These definitions all apply to the American Revolution by todays standards. When you take a step back and envision the colonists and especially the signers of the Declaration of Independence consider their circumstances. The word radical becomes even more significant and appropriate. In the book, From Resistance to Revolution, historian Pauline Maier gives some insight into the term radical. To understand the emergent revolutionary movement, this study concentrates upon men in the vanguard of opposition to Britain, whom I have chosen to call radicals. The term has pitfalls. The word itself is an a nachronism, since it was first applied to political groups only in the nineteenth century. (Observers in the 1760s and 1770s sometimes used the word violent much as we use radical, without necessarily implying the commission of acts of violence in the modern sense, which has itself encouraged historical confusion.) Radical is, nonetheless, a legitimate and in fact technically exact word for describing men who most thoroughly criticized British governing practices, seeking always a return to what they considered traditional principles of British rule. (Maier, xviii) Prior to tensions mounting with the British Parliament and King, American Colonists were immersed in a society with a class structure and a clear hierarchy with the King at the top. Initially Colonists were very happy to be British subjects but that sentiment dissipated as time progressed and taxes, proc...

Financial Incentives in Health Care Essays

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